Need help on picking a cruiser?

defstream

New Member
Oct 1, 2009
7
Los Angeles
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Guys I'm looking for a nice cruiser that's good for fishing, and for trips up and down the West Coast (Possibly even from Los Angeles -> Miami ). I'm looking at the 280 / 270 sundancers, I want to fish but don't necessarily need a complete fishing rig like the amber jacks. Any suggestions?
 
No way any of the Sport Cruisers will carry enough fuel to do a trip from LA to Miami. The cost of fuel alone would make it unreasonable, much less the discussion on if a 340 or smaller is built to handle those conditions. Taking my boat from MDR to San Diego and back burns about $1200 worth of fuel. I don't even want to think of what it would cost from LA to Miami.

Do you have much boating experience and if so on what types of vessels and what types of waters and distances?
 
This is a legitimate post :smt100, also to clarify this would be my first boat. And thanks for the info, it does look like LA -> MIA would be out of the question, but still up and down the coast is still in.
 
defstream - No need to post the same question in multiple areas of our Forum. We'll get you with just one post. :thumbsup:
 
This is a legitimate post :smt100, also to clarify this would be my first boat. And thanks for the info, it does look like LA -> MIA would be out of the question, but still up and down the coast is still in.

OK. I'm not trying to be cruel or sound as if I am an expert. Fact is, I know next to nothing when it comes to boating up & down the west coast. I do know this though....Up & down the coast in your first boat (280, 290, whatever) is probably not a good Idea.
 
The 280 / 270 is just what I'm looking at now, any suggestions are more than welcome


OK. I'm not trying to be cruel or sound as if I am an expert. Fact is, I know next to nothing when it comes to boating up & down the west coast. I do know this though....Up & down the coast in your first boat (280, 290, whatever) is probably not a good Idea.
 
The 280 / 270 is just what I'm looking at now, any suggestions are more than welcome

Well it seems like you've narrowed it down and it looks like you know what you want. You fail to say if you are interested in purchasing new or used. If new... great. If used, you should look at something with new technology such as DTS (Digital Throttle and Shift), as well as Bravo 3 Drives. I definitely suggest twin engines on a 280+DA, and although they are not entirely necessary on a 270DA, I still strongly recommend twins. I know of a 270 Amberjack with a single engine that feels significantly underpowered. The weight of these vessels truly demand twins when cruising, or simply around the docks. A 270/280DA is a large boat to dive into for a first boat...

what is your boating experience?

We started with a 220 Sundeck, which is a bow rider. That was a great starter boat and the easy bow access made for easy docking/mooring/anchoring. How about looking at a 260/270/290 Sundeck if you insist on starting so big for a first boat. Sundecks are such easy boats, and I think you could probably handle a large Sundeck a lot more comfortably than a large Sundancer.
 
Seems to me if this is your first boat you need to consider a few different things:

- How you will primarily use it (fishing versus longer range cruising...in bigger boats you can often do both, but in smaller boats, they are rarely designed to do both suitably)
- Will you spend the night on it. If so, how much
- What will you budget for fuel and expenses, including slip fees (If you are in LA, you would most likely dock in MDR. Figure $500 to $900 a month in slip fees)
- Size to learn on first boat. I know there are people on this forum that started bigger, but I learned on a 26 and think that is plenty big for your first entrance to boat ownership. Buy it knowing you will only own it a year or two. Hire a good captain to teach you the basics and set aside a slush fund of cash, so you don't have to worry about that when things come up.

After your first year you can decide if this is a lifestyle for you or not and start looking at bigger boats and longer range cruising.

Good luck and feel free to post any newbie questions you have. Be specific and only post once.
 
I've only rented powerboats for the past 12/15 years and now ready for one to call my own.

I do plan on spending the night, probably never more than a weekend or a week at the most ( I'm planning on getting the gray water system and macerator as well ) curious on the details of the vaccu flush head.

I do plan on ~500 for a boat slip in MDR.

I also defniately plan on the twin engine.

I'm looking to buy new and top out at 150k for the cruiser if you guys can recommend any used that can offer more ( any brand ) I'm open as well.

One newbie question is what are the ranges on a full tank on the 270+'s?

Seems to me if this is your first boat you need to consider a few different things:

- How you will primarily use it (fishing versus longer range cruising...in bigger boats you can often do both, but in smaller boats, they are rarely designed to do both suitably)
- Will you spend the night on it. If so, how much
- What will you budget for fuel and expenses, including slip fees (If you are in LA, you would most likely dock in MDR. Figure $500 to $900 a month in slip fees)
- Size to learn on first boat. I know there are people on this forum that started bigger, but I learned on a 26 and think that is plenty big for your first entrance to boat ownership. Buy it knowing you will only own it a year or two. Hire a good captain to teach you the basics and set aside a slush fund of cash, so you don't have to worry about that when things come up.

After your first year you can decide if this is a lifestyle for you or not and start looking at bigger boats and longer range cruising.

Good luck and feel free to post any newbie questions you have. Be specific and only post once.
 
If you want range - go with a 290 Amberjack - plus more room for fishing.
 
If you are looking @ $150k new.......I'm guessing a 270 is as large as you can get. Don't know if a generator is standard but if not add that & a few other upgrades and the 150# may not be doable. The vacuflush is probably standard.

A weekend on the 270 maybe. A week - not me. As far as fuel, that will probably get you a 100 gal fuel tank.
 
Why by new when you can pick up slightly used and already outfitted at great prices right now. Even brand new boats have bugs to be worked out and problems to be fixed.
 
Finding used boats in the LA area has been a bit daunting, in General, what are the average depreciation as well?

Why by new when you can pick up slightly used and already outfitted at great prices right now. Even brand new boats have bugs to be worked out and problems to be fixed.
 

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